Nut lock



R. {Vt HATCH.

NUT LOCK. APPLICATION FILED AUG.23, 1920.

3,416,292., I P tented May 1%, 1922,

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ma 16,1922;

, Application fi1c'd A1igust23,'1920. Serial No. *4053695 T 0 all whom it may concern the nut is prevented from becoming accidentallyloosened when the device isinus'e althoughthe nut may be'rem'oved from the bolt when desired, the surface of the material beingheld by the bolt being substantially undamaged, or mutilated by repeated use of the device.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a form of cooperating nut and lock washer adapted for repeated use upon an ordinaryform of bolt without injury to any of the parts, a single wrench being em ployed for readily removing the nut when in its locked position although the latter is prevented from jarring or working loose when once positioned upon the work.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a nut lock that is simple in construction, easy and inexpensive to manufacture and capable of universal use wher ever such a device is desirable for use upon. bolts, such for instance as motor vehicles, the device being readily operable to its locking position as well as releasable when occasion requires.

\Vith these general objects in View, the invention consists of the novel combination. and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described in connection with the illustrations of the accompanying drawing and in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a piece of material showing my invention operatively positioned upon a bolt secured therethrough,

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof partially broken away,

Figure 3 is a. transverse sectional view of the same with the lock washer broken away,

Figure 4 is a plan view of the outer face of the lock washer and Figure 5 is an edge view thereof with the inner face uppermost.

Referring more in detail tothe drawing, my lnvention-broadly consists ofa' look washer 10 and asubstantial'ly usual form of threadednut' '11 having its inner face adapted for cooperating wit-h the washer when positioned upon the screw threads 12 of "a usual form of bolt 13. The bolt 13-is' herein illustrated in use extendingthrough' open ings 14 and 15 provided in two pieces of material 16 andl? respectively of wood, metal, or the like, it being understood'that the head 18 .at one end of the bolt 13 is preferably socketed in the material being held'or otherwise prevented fromturning" in' any desired manner.

The washer lO has one or more notches 19 sloping in the same direction annularly of its inner face and herein illustrated as two in number, forming teeth 20 adapted for engaging the outer surface 21 of the work or adjacent block 17. The opposite outer face of the washer 10 has similar notches 22 forming ratchet teeth or shoulders 23 adapted for engagement by similar teeth 24 upon the inner end of the nut 11. The teeth 24- of the nut are preferably the same in number as the teeth 23 upon the outer face of the washer 10 with the adjacent faces of the nut and washer complementally formed for close engagement with each other when the device is normally positioned looked upon the bolt 13. The number of work engaging teeth 20 may or may not be the same as that of the nut engaging teeth 23 of the washer 10 while one or any greater number of such teeth will serve to carry out the objects of my inven tion.

Vith the bolt 13 positioned through the blocks 16 and 17 to be held. the washer 10 is positioned upon the bolt 13 with the teeth 20 against the outermost block 17 while the nut 11 is then screwed upon the threads 12 for engaging the shoulders 24 of the nut with the teeth 23 at the outer side of the washer as best illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing.

The nut 11 is then tightened upon the bolt and when the shoulders 24 engage the teeth face of the nut to ride upwardly on the teeth or shoulders 23 of the washer 1O mak ing the turning of the nut extremely difficult and preventing accidental loosening or, removal of the nut by reason of the engagement with the washer heretofore described.

' By applying a wrench to the nut 11, however, the same may be turned off of the threaded portion 12of the bolt as the teeth 20 of the washer 10 prevent the turning of the washer during the removal of the nut so that the nut ratchets over the washer teeth 28 and while the initial removing movement tightens the nut upon the washer, the engagement therebetween is lessened as soon as the nut teeth 24 pass the first suc: ceeding tooth 23 ofthe washer. Thereafter, the nut 11 is readily removed from the bolt and it will be understood that the angle or pitch of the ratcheting engagement between the adjacent faces of the nut 11 and washer 10 is greater than that of the threads of the portion 12 of the bolt 13. While the preferred form of the invention is herein set forth, it will be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

A washer 10 or a plurality thereof may also be used in connection with an ordinary bolt and threaded nut if desired although the form of nut 11 is found desirable.

My nut lock may be released by the employ-v ment of a single wrench.

What is claimed as new is: a

The combination with a nut having a pair of diametrically disposedtee'thon its under side facing in the direction of rotation in screwing the nut on a bolt, of a locking washer therefor having a pair'of teeth on each side diametrically disposed, the teeth on each side facing in the opposite direction of rotation of the nut in screwing the same upon a bolt, the pitch of the teeth on oppo site sides of the washer being of the same degree.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature RAYMOND M. HATCH. 

